Bathing suit



May 29, 1962 N. E. JEFFREY 3,036,574

BATHING SUIT Filed Jan. 4, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Pig. 5 NELLIE E. JEFFREY BY Mm, [1100M M: UMEa/M A TTORNEYS Why 29, 9 N.E; JEFFREY 3,036,574

BATHING SUIT Filed Jan. 4. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

NELLIE E. JEFFREY ATTORNEYS 3&35574 Patented May 29, 1952 fie 3,036,574BATHENG SUIT Nellie E. Jeffrey, 629 .lames Drive, Kolrorno, Ind. Filed.l'an. 4, 196%), er. No. 163 2 tilairns. (rCl. l23454) The presentinvention relates to improvements in wearing apparel and finds a primaryutility in womens bathing suits.

One problem present in the construction of present day Womens bathingsuits is that such suits must be removed when employing the facilitiesof a restroom. Naturally such removal takes time and is inconvenient tothe wearor of the suit. Bathing suits have been designed which partiallysolve this problem but are difiicult to operate and do not mask or hidethe construction provided for solving the problem.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention toprovide an improved bathing suit which is so constructed as to beconvenient and comfortable and not necessary to remove when the weareris employing the facilities of a restroom.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bathing suitwhich has a conventional appearance when it is worn, yet whichincorporates the novel construction above mentioned.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improvedbathing suit having a built in girdle arrangement incorporatingresilient form-fitting material which extends over the hips and alsoextends just below the bust and compietely around the waist so as tohold in any unsightly bulges and provide the wearer with a beautifulform.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved girdlearrangement which is detachably mountable on various wearing apparel.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide animproved girdle arrangement which i so constructed as to reduce thesizeof the wearers waist by a substantial amount.

Related objects and advantages of the invention will become obvious asthe description proceeds.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of a bathing suit embodyingthe present invention showing the suit on a dummy and as it would appearwhen the wearer is bathing.

FIG. 2 is a perspective View of the rear of the suit and dummy of FIG. 1showing the suit as it would appear when the wearer is bathing.

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the front of the suit and dummy of FIG.1 showing one zipper of the suit in open condition, said zipperfacilitating the putting on of the suit by a wearer.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the front of the suit and dummy of FIG.1 showing the above mentioned zipper in partially open condition andalso showing, in partially detached position, a flap forming a part ofthe invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view of a modification f the inventionshowing the flap, thereof, in detached,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 of a further alternativeembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the rear of the suit and dummy of FIG.7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side view of the suit of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a girdle forming a part of the bathing suit ofFIGS. 7-9.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the girdle ofFIG. 10, said alternative embodiment being detachably mountable uponvarious wearing ap parel.

Referring now to the drawings, a dummy 10 is formed in the shape of afemale torso and has a womans bathing suit 11 thereon. The bathing suitis formed of suitable cloth material and is proportioned in the shape ofan attractive womans figure whereby the suit hugs the female wearersfigure in form-fitting relation. Sewn into the suit on the underneathside thereof, is a girdle 13 (bounded by dotted lines 12, FIGS. 1 and 2)which is formed of suitable resilient elastic material. This girdlewhich forms an extremely important part of the invention, is describedin detail below.

In the bust areas 15 of the suit, pockets (not shown) may be provided onthe underneath surface of the suit for padding material if needed.Straps 16 are detachably connected to loops 17 and 18 at the upper edgesof the front 20 and back 21, respectively, of the suit. The straps areso arranged that they support the suit by extending over the shouldersof the wearer. If desired, the straps 16 may be removed from the loops17 and 118 and the suit worn as a strapless bathing suit.

The front and back are sewn together or are integral at their sidewardedges 22 so as to form a generally tubular shape, the term generallybeing used to allow for the various curves and contours appropriate tothe female shape. The tubular shape is partially closed at its lower endto cover the crotch and form leg openings by means of a flap 25 which isintegral with the back 21 and extends from the lower end thereof.

The flap is removably attachable to the lower portion of the front andto the rearward surface thereof, by means of a zipper 26. Themodification of FIGS. 14 has the flap portion 27 of the zipper spacedfrom the edge 28 of the flap soas to prevent pinching of the wearer bythe operation of the zipper. In the modification of FIGS. 5 and 6, theportion 30 of the zipper is mounted upon and spaced from the edge StiAof an elongated section 31 of material which is sewn to the rearwardsurface 32 of the lower portion of the front 35 whereby pinching of thewearer by the operation of the zipper is prevented. Except for the abovedescribed spacing of the zipper portions, the two modifications areidentical. In other words, the modification of FIGS. 1-4 is alsoprovided with an elongated section 36 of material which is sewn to thefront 20 similarly to the sewing of the section 31 to the front 35.

It should be noted that the zipper 26 of the present invention is soarranged that the closed zipper extends from the forward outside portionof one leg of the wearer of the suit across the lower abdomen to theforward outside portion of the other leg of the wearer. Because of thislocation of the zipper, it is highly accessible and easily operated.When the wearer of the suit is employing the facilities of a restroom,the zipper 26 is unzipped and the flap 25 is pulled between the legsfrom front to back and raised.

Because of the fact that the section 36 is sewn to the underneathsurface of the front at a distance from the lower end of the end portionof the front, the lower end portion 40 forms a skirt, hiding and maskingthe zipper 26. Since the suit is intended to be a tight, form-fittinggarment, the lower end portion 40 is held in relatively tight maskingrelation over the zipper 26. In FIG. 4, the lower portion of the front20 has been raised and suitably stitched at 28A to hold the lower endportion 40 upwardly for demonstrational purposes. In FIG. 6, the lowerportion of the front 35 has been folded back and upwardly fordemonstrational purposes. It should be noted that because of the tight,form-fitting nature of the garment, it would be necessary to hold theskirt of FIG. 6 in the position shown.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 3, the front 20 is provided witha further Zipper 41 which extends from the upper edge of the suit downto the upper abdominal area. Hooks 42 and snaps 43 are also provided forclosing the front. Thus, to put on the suit, the upper portion of thesuit may be opened by means of zipper tll, hooks 42 and snaps 43 and thesuit drawn upwardly into proper position. The zipper, hooks and snapsare then closed resulting in the suit giving the attractive appearanceof FIG. 1. If desired, buttons 45 (non-operable) may be provided on thefront for further adding to the attractive appearance.

Referring now more particularly to the girdle 13, it can be seen thatthe girdle extends completely around the waist and, because of theelastic material of which the girdle is formed, acts to reduce the sizeof the wearers waist. The particular embodiment of the girdleillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is designed for a wearer who desiressubstantial support in the hip area. As can be seen from FIG. 2, thegirdle has incorporated therein portions 46 which extend beneath theback 21 of the suit to partially cover the buttocks and give substantialsupport in the hip area.

A very important feature of the girdle is the fact that it covers andsupports substantially the entire abdomen and midriff area up to andjust below the bust areas 15. Thus, it can be seen that the girdlecontrols and holds in unsightly bulges at all of the locations at whichsuch control is desirable and also reduces the size of the wearers waistall of which results in an attractive and pleasing female form.

Referring now to FIGS. 79, an alternative embodient of the invention isillustrated which is identical to the above described embodiments withthe following exceptions. Straps 16 are detachably connected to a singleloop 17' at the central upper edge of the front 20'. This arrangementprovides support for the suit without unduly flattening of the bustareas 15' of the suit. The straps 16' are connected to the upper edge ofthe back 21' of the suit by suitable loops 4-7.

But more important, the embodiment of FIGS. 79 incorporates thepreferred form of the girdle of the pres ent invention. The girdle 13 isintended for the wearer who does not desire the substantial support inthe hip area referred to in connection with the girdle illustrated 1nFIGS. 1 and 2. Unlike the girdle illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lowerportion 50 of the girdle 13' terminates at the lines of juncture 22. ofthe front and back of the suit. In all other respects, the girdle of thesuit of FIGS. 79 is identical to the girdle illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2and provides the desirable effects mentioned in connection therewith. Inother words, the girdle 13' provides the support in the necessary areasto properly mold the female form.

FIG. 10 shows the girdle 13 as it appears in flattened form prior toincorporation in the bathing suit of FIGS". 79. As has been mentionedabove, the girdles illustrated are sewn into the suit on the underneathside thereof.

This sewing is not effected merely at the outside edges of the girdlebut also at the internal portions thereof in orlder that the girdle andsuit form one integrated unit. The girdle 13' is provided with aseparation 51 to allow for mounting and proper operation of a zipper(not shown) forming a part of the suit of FIGS. 79 and arranged andoperable identically to the zipper 41 (FIG. 3).

In FIG. 11 there is illustrated a further embodiment of the inventioncomprising a girdle 52 which is detachably mountable on various wearingapparel. The girdle is constructed and operates similarly to the abovedescribed girdle 13' but does not include a separation such as theseparation 51. Hooks 52 and cooperating loops 55 are attached to theopposite ends of the waist portions 56 and are connected at the wearersback when the girdle is in use. Hooks 57 are mounted on the lowersideward edges 53 of the girdle for attaching the girdle to, forexample, a pair of shorts which would be provided with cooperatingattachment means.

From the above description, it will be obvious that the presentinvention provides a bathing suit having a built-in girdle arrangementincorporating resilient formfitting material which extends over theabdomen and midriff just below the bust and extends completely aroundthe waist so as to provide the wearer with a beautiful form. It can alsobe seen that the present invention provides an improved girdlearrangement which is detachably mountable on various wearing apparel.

In connection with the other portions of the invention, it will beobvious from the above description that the present invention providesan improved bathing suit which is easy to put on and is convenient andcomfortable when the bather is employing the facilities of a restroom.It should be noted that the two zippers 26 and 41, the hooks 42 andsnaps 43 are all within easy access of the wearer. It will be obviousthat the present invention also provides means for hiding or masking thezipper 26. Conceivably, the flap concept of the invention also hasfurther applications such as, for example, in wearing apparel for youngchildren.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that allchanges and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventionand the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

l. A bathing suit comprising a front; a back; said front and back beingconnected at their sides to provide a form fitting generally tubularshape including an abdomen and midriif covering portion, a bust coveringportion and a waist covering portion; a flap extending from the lowerend of said back; a Zipper mounted on the lower rearward surface of saidfront and on the extending end of said flap for removably attaching saidflap to said front; a skirt formed integrally with said front andcovering said zipper; and a girdle formed of resilient elastic materialand attached to the underneath surface of said front and back, saidgirdle being secured to the abdomen and midriff portion and extendingupwardly to and just below the bust portion, said girdle also beingsecured to the waist portion of the suit and extending in closed fashioncompletely therearound.

2. A bathing suit comprising a front; a back; said front and back beingconnected at their sides to provide a form fitting generally tubularshape, said tubular shape including in said front an abdomen and midritfcovering portion located in the lower and central front and a bustcovering portion located in the upper front, said tubular shape furtherincluding a waist covering portion extending completely around saidtubular shape centrally thereof, a flap extending from the lower endofsaid back; a zipper mounted on the lower rearward surface of saidfront and on the extending end of said flap for removably attaching saidflap to said front; a skirt formed integrally with said front andcovering said zipper; and -a girdle formed of resilient elastic materialand attached to the underneath surface of said front and back, saidgirdle being secured to the abdomen and midriff portion and extendingupwardly to and just below the bust portion, said girdle also beingsecured to the waist portion of the suit and extending in closed fashioncompletely therearound.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FleshApr. 26, Block Sept. 8, Silverman Dec. 1, Luhr Mar. 9, Finn Oct. 28,McKee July 28,

